7 Natural Remedies For your Cold

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Cold season is fast approaching, as the weather gets colder it seems that we tend to catch more colds. Couple that colder weather with kids back in school and it seems we have created the perfect petri dish.  Kids tend to catch a couple of colds each winter.  It is sometimes easier to keep yourself healthy but what do you do when your family or you do get a cold?
. We try to take the Hippocratic approach to medicine around here.  First do no harm. We use natural and home remedies first at home then when that does not work we had off to see the Doctor. We will use our natural remedies but we do use modern medicine. Sometimes you do need an antibiotic or a steroid shot.
So when someone is sick here we start with simple remedies before we even think about doing to the Doctor we start with the following.
Tea – a hot cup of tea, with some local honey makes a great treatment for most common ailments, like colds and allergies. Not only is tea full of antioxidants, But you also get some therapeutic benefit from the steam and the heat of the beverage. Throw in some lemon and you get a boost of Vitamin C. Sometimes a green tea is warranted but other times a hibiscus tea is a better choice. Hibiscus based teas, like Celestial Seasonings Zinger teas have more vitamin C than per cup than orange juice.
Wash your Hands  Wash your hands, using soap, and wash them often. If you don’t have soap,  don’t worry. The rubbing together of your hands under water is what removes the virus from your skin, not the soap.  Hand sanitizers are not necessary.
Vitamin C and Zinc Lozenges  at the first sign of a cold I will start with these, Vitamin C and Zinc have been proven to reduce the severity and duration of a cold.
NetIi Pot – If you have not tried one of these, it may seem weird at first, but once you get used to it, it will become normal. My two oldest will go use the neti pot on their own. We just put a pinch of natural salt in warm water,  The irrigation of your nasal cavities really helps to get everything cleared out.
Garlic -  This is a great remedy for colds or stomach bugs. Throw in some Ginger and you have a winning combination. The last time I got a cold, which was over 2 years ago it only lasted one day. I felt a cold coming on so I sat in my chair drinking ginger tea with honey all afternoon. It was a Saturday after soccer.  That night I made my shrimp with Three Gingers, and Garlic for dinner. I think I put some extra garlic and ginger in that time.  I woke up with my cold gone.
Pineapple/Pineapple Juice – This is a remedy that tastes soo good. Pineapple contains bromelin, bromelin is an anti-inflammatory.  It fights infections and kills bacteria. You can drink fresh pineapple juice to sooth a sore throat and it will help expel mucous for you. I like to take my pineapple and blend it with my tea and honey. A good drink no matter what.  Taking pineapple to treat a cold or cough is a time honored tradition in Aruyvedic Medicine, not only does it deliver vitamin C but since the bromelin is a potent anti- inflammatory it helps in treating all the inflammatory symptoms that arise from the common cold.
Chicken Broth  A frequent symptom of the common cold, especially in kids is loss of appetite. Making a good Overnight Broth will help thwart that cold, especially if you include the spices turmeric, ginger and garlic in making your broth. I try to keep some broth on hand when I make it but it rarely lasts long enough to keep some.  If I don’t make a soup, my kids will drink the broth straight out the pan,


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